Butterfly Species Diversity and Habitat Heterogeneity across Altitudinal Gradients of Mt. Banahaw de Majayjay, Philippines

Ecosystems and Development Journal; Emer C. Gestiada; Manuel L. Castillo; Nathaniel C. Bantayan; Juancho B. Balatibat

Ecosystems and Development Journal
Emer C. Gestiada Makiling Center for Mountain Ecosystems, College of Forestry and Natural Resources, UPLB, College, Laguna
Manuel L. Castillo Department of Forest Biological Sciences, College of Forestry and Natural Resources, University of the Philippines Los Baños
Nathaniel C. Bantayan Institute of Renewable Natural Resources, CFNR, UPLB, College, Laguna 4031, Philippines
Juancho B. Balatibat Department of Forest Biological Sciences, College of Forestry and Natural Resources, University of the Philippines Los Baños

Keywords: butterly, community, diversity, habitat, heterogeneity

Abstract

Butterfly diversity and associated flora were assessed in three
different types of habitats in Mt. Banahaw de Majayjay,
Philippines in order to determine the mountain’s ecological
state. Butterfly census techniques include trapping and net
sweeping along a modified transect line (1000m) in three habitat
types. Separately, trees and undergrowth host plants were
surveyed from the five 10-m2 plot established alternately at every
200-m interval along the same transect and from the four 1-m2
quadrat established within each plot. A total of 81 butterfly
species and subspecies were recorded including one new
migrant species. Butterfly and host plant species diversity was
highest in agroforestry (H’ = 3.60 and 2.78) while lowest in
dipterocarp forest (H’=2.36 and 1.75). These patterns were
significantly related to shifts in dispersal pattern and structure
of vegetation, particularly host plants, temperature and slope of
habitats, as determined by the canonical correspondence
analysis (CCA) using the same environmental variables.
Bivariate analysis showed that the mean elevation negatively
affects the wet season butterfly species richness and diversity.